Sharon Garon pulled off one of the biggest surprises on record when she completed her studies for her bachelor of human resources and labour relations and qualified to attend convocation 2009.

"After a period of unemployment, the job I found was in the Arctic. I made the move and spent four years living and working in the Northwest Territories. I had the time and opportunity to pursue a degree, but with working full-time, AU was an easy choice because it was the perfect fit for my schedule and it had a degree program that was also a perfect fit for me.

"I remember how intimidating the first couple of classes were, how thought-provoking they were, how relevant they were to my work, how some of them became almost enjoyable.

"I must be crazy but for six years, I kept the fact that I was studying to myself. Apart from my partner and my mom, none of my family knew. It was easy when I lived in the Arctic. They weren't around to see that I was studying. I wanted to keep it a surprise and I did. I called all my family together to read them my letter from AU informing me that I had completed all of the requirements for my degree. They were shocked, to say the least, but so proud. And of course, so was I.

"Between my two daughters they have five-plus university degrees and they have shown me how perseverance and determination brings about such a wonderful sense of achievement and confidence. I spent years thinking about studying at university but I didn't believe it was in my future. I always felt school was for young people and that I had missed my chance years ago. I experienced such a sense of accomplishment and I will never forget the experience. This has been my life's dream come true."